Operating and detaching mechanism for excavating buckets



OPERATING AND DETACHING MECHANISM FORYEXCAVAVTING 800K315 O. N. GARDNER April 28, 1925.

Filed NW. 18

1931 2 Sweet s-ghost 1 INVENTOR I ATTORNEY April 28, 1925. 1,535,120

O. N. GARDNER OPERATING AND DETACHING MECHANISM FOR EXCAVATING BUCKETS Filed Nov. 18 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

IN I/EN TOR A TTQRNEY Patented Apr. 28, 1925.,

nane Fries.

OMAR N. GARDNER, OF JAMESTOWN, NEW YORK.

OPERATING D'ETACHING MECHAI'TISM FOR,

EXCAVATING BUCKETS.

Application. fil ed. November 18, 1921 Serial No. 516,082.

To all whom zit may concern.-

Be it known that I, OMAR N. GARDNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Jamestown, in the county of Chautauqua and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Opcrating and Detaching Mechanism for cavating Buckets, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to operating and dctaohing mechanism for excavating buckets and the like, and has particular reference to an attachment for clam shell or orange peel buckets of the double line type to permit the ready and expeditious attachment and detachment of such buckets to and from the hoisting and holding lines of such apparatus.

It is a Well known fact among engineers and contractors employed in excavating and hoisting operations, that it is often desirable and necessary to detach the excavating buckets from the crane or derrick when it is desired to employ the same for other hoisting purposes. VVit-h the form of buckets now'in use, thiswdetaching or dis connecting operation necessitates the re moval of bolts and a partial disarrangement of the bucket structure and the reeving off of the cable from the bucket operating mechanism, thus consuming a considerable period of time and a consequent'delay in the work. The almost universal use of excavating buckets on contract work has created a demand for a quick-detachable bucket, especially in thatform of hoisting and excavating buckets employing double lines, one for, ope-rating and hoisting, the bucket and the other for holding the same in its suspended position.

An object of this invention is to provide an attachment for excavating buckets ofthe double line type, especially those of the clam shell or orange peel variety, that willpermit the detachment of the bucket from the lines in the minimum period of time and which will not require the removal of bolts or disarrangement of the bucket structure.

A further objeotof the invention to provide a device of this general character that is capable of attachment to the double line buckets now in general use, and which will not require change or alteration in their present construction or o aeration.

A. further object of t isinvention is to provide a drum adapted for attachment to the top of the bucket which functions in the buckets operation, and by means of which the bucket can be quickly detached from the holding and hoisting lines of the crane or derrick.

A still. further object of this invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned character that is simple inconstruction, convenient in use, and strong and durable.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the several views,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of anexcavating bucket provided with my improved form of detaching mechanism, showing the bucket in closed position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged 'sideview of the detaching. drum showing the relative position ofthe hoisting and operating line on the compartments of the drum when the bucket 15 in open position;

Fig. 3 is an end view of the drum, showing the hook and slot members;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a bucket provided with my improved form of detaching mechanism showing the bucket in open position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental horizontal sectional view of my improved drum; and

Fig. 6 is an enlarged end view of my improved attachment.

In the presentinstance, by way of illustration, I have shown my invention as employed in connection with a clam shell bucket of the well-known Hayward type, but I wish it to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular application but'is equally well adapted to all forms of clam shell and orange peel buckets of the double line type.

Referringto the drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown. a pieferrcd embodiment of my invention, the numerals 1-1 designate the coacting sec tions of a clam shell bucket, carrying the arms 2-2 which are pivotally mounted on a central shaft 3. Rigidly secured on the shaft 3 at the cent a1 portion thereof is a power wheel 4; to which is secured the bucket operating line 5. The operating chains of the bucket sections are indicated at 66, said chains having their upper ends rigidly secured to a cross bar 7 and their lower ends secured to the shaft 3 at opposite sides of.

the power wheel 4. The coacting bucket sections 11 have their outer corners pivotally connected to the cross bar 7 by means of suitable brace rods 88. All 01"- the above construction is conventional and well known in the art and terms no part of my presentinvention. i

The construction and operation of the bucket will it is thought, be obvious from the foregoing description. Assuming that the bucket is closed and suspended above the load it is desired to convey, it is only necessary to slacken the bucket operating line and the relatively heavy shatt S and its connected parts will drop downwardly and thrust the bucket sections apart through the agency 01'' the arms 2-2. In descending, the power wheel 4: is rotated by the resistance afforded by the unwinding ot the chains G6 and simultaneously winds up in an opposite direction the bucket operating line 5 within the peripheral groove ot the power wheel 4:. In closing the bucket lifting power is applied to the line 5 and shatt 1-3 to wind the chains 66 thereon to draw the arms 22 upwardly and close the bucket sections together.

Detachably connected to the upper portion of the cross bar 7 by means of suitable connecting links 9 is a substantially rectangular frame 10 having rotatably journalled between the vertical sides thereof a drum 11. This drum is provided with radially extending end flanges 12 and 13 and is divided throughout its length into three separate and distinct con'ipartments 1st, 15 and 16 by means of the partition flanges l7 and 18. Each ot the end flanges 12 and 13 is provided with radial slots 19 and at points diametrically opposite said slots with hooks 20. Partition flange 18 is also provided with a. radially extending slot 21 for allowing the passage of the bucket operating line 5 vfrom one compartment to another as will be hereinafter explained.

llxtending outwardly from the vertical side bars of the frame 10, in a plane slightly above the periphery of the drum 11 are the cross pieces 22 and 23, having their inner ends held in spaced relation to than an opening 2st through which the operating line 25 may pass when reeled off the compartment Ll. This opening is normally closed by means of the plate 26 pivotally mounted on the cross piece 22, and which is provided with the roller 27 which effectively coacts with a parallel roller 28 slightly in rear thereof to prevent abrasion of the operating and hoisting line 25 as it is reeved between the same. The inner spaced ends of the cross pieces and 23 are provided with parallel guide rollers or sheaves 29 and 30 which are disposed at right-angles to the rollers 27 and 28 and serve as guide members to properly align the cable or line in its movement there- The method of reeving the ropes upon the arious con'ipartanents ot the drum 11 to accomplish the hoisting and bucket operations. and the manner ot attaching and detaching the bucket to and from thehoisting and holding linesis as follows. The bucket is opened to the full extent of its spread and the hook 532 engaged and locked to the upper cross piece of the frame 10 by ins of the counterweighted lever on. The end ot the operating and hoisting line is formed into an eye or loop as shown in the drawings and is reeved through the opening through the slot. 19 in the outer flange 12 and secured tothe hook 20. The d1: m is then rotated by hand to wind the line onto compartment 14-, a suthcient amount of line being wound on this compartment to allow for the playout of the bucket during the closing operation and also an extra amount equal to about three complete wraps. The bucket operating line 5 has its upper end provided with a suitable eye which onthe hook 20 on the outer flange 13 the line then passing through the radial slot 19 and making a complete turn about the com- 'iartment 16. This line then passes through the slot 21 in the partition plate 18 and on to compartment 15 from which it depends to the power wheel .1-. The hoisting engine of the crane or derrick is then started and pulls on the operating and hoisting line 25, thus unwinding the line from compartment 1a; and at the same time winding the bucket operating line 5 upon co)npartmcnt 15 thus closing the jaws Ill of the bucket about the loa d as above explained. The bucket is then hoisted to the required height by the hoisting and operating line 25, the weight is then shifted to the holding line 31, and the line 25 slackened. The downward pull on the bucket operating line 5 caused by the weight ot the load and the shaft 3 and its connected parts will cause the line 5 to unwind from compartment 15, thus winding the operating and hoistingline upon the compartment 14. The open bucket is then lowered on the holding line 31 to the place of loading.

l t here it is desired or necessary to detach the bucket and operating drum trom the hoisting and holding lines and 31 res1 ectively, the bucket may be lowered to the ground in open position the friction is then thrown oti the hoisting line drum ot the hoisting engine of the crane or derrick and the hoisting line25 is pulled slack sothat the detacher drum 11 may be readily, revolaied. The bucket operating; line 5. is: then pulled to unwind; the line from: con'ipantments 15 and 16 and, when con'ipletcly unwound, the eye at the upper endoitsaid line is disengaged from the hook 20 on the end flange 13. The hoisting engine is then started to raise the hoisting line This-movement causes the line 25 to unwind from compartment 14 and when completely unwound therefrom, the endoif the line is readily disengaged from the hook 20 on the end flange 12, thus disconnecting the hoisting and operating line immthe bucket structure. The counterweight-ed lever is then moved about its pivot and the hook on the holding line 31. is disengagedatrom'the cross frame orthe detaching mechanism. In the above description ot the method of attachingand, detaching the bucket, I have mentioned that the bucket is lowered to theuground in open position, but this is not essential to the successful operation of the detacher and the same may be attached and detached to and tt'ron'i the lines when the bucket is restingon the ground in closed position.

It is to be understood that the term of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangementof parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Iilaving thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire vto secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A] device of the character described comprising an excavating bucket having a power wheel, hoisting and holding lines for operat ng said bucket, an attachment secured to said bucket. iiulcpcndent of said power wheel, to which saidhoisting and holding lines are detachably fixed, and means connecting said. attachment to said power wheel whereby upon the hoisting or lowering of said bucket said power wheel is rotated to close or open said bucket.

2. A. device of the character described comprising an excavating bucket having a power wheel, hoisting and holding lines for said bucket, an attachment including a rota table drum secured to said bucket inclependent of said power wheel, to which said hoisting and holding lines are detachably fixed, said hoisting line being attached to said drum for winding and unwinding thereon and a bucket operating line secured at one end to said powerwheel and at the other end to said drum whereby upon winding or unwinding of the hoisting line on said drum, said power wheel is rotated to close or open said bucket.

3. A device of the character described,

comprising an excavating buckethaving a power wheel, hoisting; and holding lines for said bucket, and an attachment including a rotatable drum secured to said; bucket inde pendent of saidpower wheel, to; which said hoisting and holding lines are; detachably fixed, said hoisting line being attached to said drum. for winding and, unwinding thereon, andmeans connecting said drum to said power wheel whereby upon winding or unwinding of the hoisting line on said drum, said, power wheelie rotated to close on open said buset.

4.. A device of the character described comprising an excavating bucket, 21.. rotatable drum secured to the bucket and having end flangesprovided with radial slots, a hoisting line secured to one end of the drum and passing through theradial slot therein and wound upon the drum, a bucket operating line secured to the opposite end of the drum and passing through the radial slot therei'njand wound upon the drum in a direction oppositeto the winding of the hoistingline, and means torcausing the winding and unwinding of the respective lines about the drum to effect the; opening and closing of the bucket.

5. A device of the character described, comprising an excavating bucket, a rotata. ble drum secured to the bucket, said drum having end flanges and being divided axially into separate peripheral compartments, a hoisting line secured to one end of-the drum and wound about one end compartment, a bucket operating line secured to the opposite end of the drum and wound about the adjacent end compartment and onto an intermediate compartment in a direction opposite to the winding of the hoisting line, and means for causing the rotation of the drum to effect the opening and closing of the bucket.

6. A device of the character described, comprising an excavatingbucket having a power wheel, an attachment including a rotatable member secured to said bucket independent of the power wheel, a hoisting line detachably secured to said rotatable member and wound about the same, a bucket operating line detachably secured at one end to the rotatable member and wound about the same in a direction opposite to that of the winding of the hoisting line, and secured at the other end to and wound about said. power wheel whereby said winding and un winding of the hoisting line actuates said power wheel and connections between said power wheel and bucket whereby the rotabeing divided axially into separate periph eral compartments; a hoisting line secured to the drum and wound about one compartment thereof for a length slightly greater than the play-out of the line when the buck et is in open position; a bucket operating line secured to the drum and adapted to be wound about a central compartment of the same for a length substantially equal to the play-out of the line when the bucket is in open position and having an additional length equal to one complete wrap about the drum passing over to the remaining compartment of the drum; and means for causing the rotation of the drum to alternately transfer this play-out from one compartment to the other to effect the opening and closing of the bucket.

8. A device of the character described comprising an excavating bucket, a rotatable drum secured to the bucket, a hoisting line secured to the drum and wrapped about the same for a length slightly greater than the play-out oi the line when the bucket is in open position, a bucket operating line secured to the drum and of slightly greater length than the play-out oi the line when the bucket is in open position, and means for unwinding the hoisting line and winding the bucket operating line upon the drum to close the bucket.

9. An attachment for an excavating buck ct of the double line type including a rotatable drum divided axially into three peripheral compartments, an operating line connecting said drum with said bucket, said line being detachably secured to one end of said drum, wound around said drum in the compartment adjacent that end, passed through the division into the middle compartment and wound around said drum in said middle compartment before being connected to said bucket, the bucket hoisting line being detaehably secured to the other end of said drum and wound around the same a plurality of turns in the direction opposite to that of said operating line and the bucket holding line being detachably secured to said attachment.

10. An attachment for bucket of the double line type including a rotatable drum, and an operating line detachably secured to said drum and connected to the bucket opening and closing mechanism, the bucket hoisting line being detachably secured to said drum and the bucket holding line being detachably secured to said attachment.

In testimony whereof I hereunto allix my signature.

OMAR N. GARDNER.

an excavating a or) 

